Search - Avril Lavigne :: Under My Skin

Sk8ter Gurl becomes Superior Songstress

Kurt Mason | MH, Arkansas | 10/04/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was startled by this girl from Napanee, Ontario (try finding it on a map, sometime), when she first appeared on VH1 and MTV a few years back with "Let Go" and the overplayed "Complicated." I loved her debut, but let's face it, the lyrical content was less than impressive and she seemed to have music that was a little too cutesy for my taste. That sort of music has its place, but there was something that I felt Avril had that she wasn't making full use of: a surplus of potential. What caught my ear was her impressive vocal ability. She has an ability to carry a tune, but lots of people have that. What blew my mind was the edge she could put into it. There's a feeling in every word. She doesn't try to be Britney Spears or any of the others. She has her own very well placed rough edges that seep through even to the casual listener. Now she releases this album, and RELEASE is the right word. It was probably jumping off the shelf. Her vocals are even more impressive now, this time backed with substance, and the music. The music has more variety than the previous album. On the first single, "Don't Tell Me," the guitar has a stylish crunch. Contrasting this are the moody tones of "Nobody's Home," and the soft piano on "My Happy Ending." All in all, "Under My Skin" shows artistic maturity and a realistic quality that lends credence to Avril's growth from teen star to adult musician. If you like female vocalists, or you're interested in a breath of fresh air, Avril's a good ticket. I give her 5 stars on this latest of her works, and look forward to future successes for her. That's my girl!"

Much better than USA version...

duckrocker | piedmont, CA | 09/15/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album was great I must say. I felt it had so much more depth than Let Go and I'm really happy about the fact that it's not as produced (I know this for a fact because I stood in the second row at one of her free mall concerts and she sounds the same live as she does on the album).



The thing about Avril Lavigne is that a lot of people dislike her because she only appeals to a certain type of crowd (11-20 year olds that just can't seem to find good relationships, have been sheltered in a pop-invested box for most of their life, and feel that this is their oppurtunity to break out of conformity). However, many people don't realize that she may not have guitar skills even comparable to Van Halen or Hendrix, but she still can sing what she feels and write lyrics that bring insight into a world of misguided teen pop. Another thing that many of the true punks and metalheads that grew up listening to their parent's old Led Zeppelin and Sex Pistols records and are now being weaned on things like Slayer and The Misfits don't realize is that there are people out there that have not had the oppurtunity to grow up quite as rapidly and still need guidance into their journey into adulthood. Personally, I feel Avril Lavigne, in this case, is quite the eye of the storm.



Anyway, back to the review...



This album is great because each song on this album expresses a new and unique idea (contrary to the contant boy-bashing themes on Lavigne's "Let Go"). I think that anyone could find something to relate to on this album as it has songs not only about how relationships don't work but also about love, friendship, loneliness, grief, insecurity, individuality, happiness, and , with the addition of "I Always Get What I Want", the things that go through the mind of a bratty, self-centered adolescent.



The reason I would recommend this album stongly is not only that I am a fan of Avril's work, but I think this album to be nothing less than lyrically genius. I would also hope that anyone would buy this album instead of the USA and Candian version because "Nobody's Home" really illustrates her unique live talent and "I Always Get What I Want" is a great fun track that makes the album that much better."

I Can't Stop Listening To This CD!!!

duckrocker | 06/24/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you like medium to hard rock, you'll love this CD. Even when it's not playing, I can hear the songs in my head! Great music, great lyrics!"